Toothbrush package advertising tab combination



Nov. 30, 1965 R. c. MCCORD ETAL 3,220,543

TOOTHBRUSH PACKAGE ADVERTISING TAB COMBINATION Filed Feb. 12. 1964 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 2055K T C. Mc COED W/ZL/AM 7-" MAGIN/V/S BY MW 9%! airways Nov. 30, 1965 R. c. MOCORD ETAL 3,220,543

TOOTHBRUSH PACKAGE ADVERTISING TAB COMBINATION Filed Feb. 12. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2125.137.

FREE I ABC INVENTORS ROBE T C. Me COED W/L L lA/VI T MAG/N/V/S BY M 4' 7124.8

United States Patent 6 3,220,543 TOOTHBRUSH PACKAGE ADVERTISING TAB COMBINATION Robert C. McCord, Florence, and William T. Maginnis, Northampton, Mass, assignors to Pro-Phy-Lac-Tic Brush Company, Florence, Mass, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 344,308 Claims. (Cl. 206-4554) This invention relates to toothbrush packages and more particularly to a combination toothbrush case and removably attachable sales display tab.

In the merchandising of toothbrushes, various promotions are instituted from time to time to stimulate sales and to encourage purchasers to try a particular brand of toothbrush. During such sales, it is customary to reduce retail prices drastically or to sell two brushes for the unit price of one. In such sales promotions, the toothbrush manufacturer usually supplies the product specially packaged for the sale, with some special type of advertising label to attract the attention of consumers. Frequently the labels take the form of tabs which are affixed to the upper end of the toothbrush case, usually displayed in upright condition in a stand or on hangers. The focus of attention is thus located at the top or head of the toothbrush case and as a result advertising tabs are aflixed at or near the top of the package, usually by means of adhesives.

When a promotional sale, usually of limited duration, has terminated, the manufacturer is confronted with the problem of replacing the sale merchandise :with merchandise marked at the regular prices. The manufacturer may then have substantial quantities of returned merchandise which is marked for sale. Removal of sales tabs has always been troublesome since it frequently results in the package being soiled or damaged, such as by adhesive residue which seriously detract-s from the appearance of the package and requires repackaging.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a toothbrush case constructed to enable advertising display tabs to be removably aflixed to the case in a simple, effective and economical manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved toothbrush package sales-display tab combination, the relationship of the package and tab being such that the tab can be readily and securely attached to the case and easily removed without in any way marring the appearance of the package.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sales display tab toothbrush combination wherein a plurality of toothbrush cases are releasably held together by the tab which converts a number of toothbrushes into a unitary item for sales promotion.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following description including the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toothbrush package embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a variation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a toothbrush package embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the package illustrating the manner of assembly of the toothbrush case and display tab;

FIG. 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing mounting means for removably attaching advertising tabs of the toothbrush case; and

"ice

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the tab shown afiixed to the toothbrush case.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a toothbrush package embodying this invention. The package is supported by means of a rod r extending outwardly from a sales display rack, not shown. The package comprises a synthetic plastic case 6 which may be transparent polystyrene and is made up of a cover 8 fitted onto a base 10 which together form a chamber enclosing a toothbrush, such as shown at 12. The two portions of the case are held securely together in case closed relation by means of a band or wrapper 14.

From the upper end of the base 10, a flange 16, integral therewith, extends upwardly. The flange is generally parallel with and offset from the under surface of the case sufliciently to provide a shoulder 17 provided with a number of offsets or steps 15 which serve to prevent accidental removal of an advertising tab 18. The flange 16 provides means for supporting the case on a toothbrush rack support r, as shown in FIG. 1. In this connection the flange is provided with a through hole 19 which is of sufficient diameter to readily receive the outwardly extending rods of a toothbrush support rack.

In accordance with this invention, disposed inwardly of the hole 19 is an annulus or a ring 20 (FIG. 5) having an outer diameter a less than diameter b of the hole 19. The ring 20 is supported in spaced relation outwardly of the flange 16 at a distance c by a pair of outwardly extending supports or arms 22 (see also FIG. 6-). The arms are of generally the same thickness as the ring 20 and are of arcuate configuration peripherally of the ring. The arms are disposed at diametrically opposite sides of the ring, at its upper and lower ends for holding the advertising tab in upright alignment with the case when mounted on the flange.

Disposition of the ring 20, inwardly of the opening 19, enables the portion of the case on which the flange is carried to be molded without the necessity of mold inserts and to permit the case to be readily removed from the mold. Thus, with this configuration of the ring and hole a highly effective means for mounting advertising tabs is provided without adding substantially to the cost of the case and without noticeably affecting the appearance of the case either with or without the tab in place.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface of hole 19, the outer surface of the ring 20 and arms 22 are generally in conical surface of-revolution which tapers inwardly from the flange enabling removal from the forming mold.

In combination with the toothbrush case described above, tab 18 is provided which may be made of any suitable sheet material sufliciently stilf to remain upright when mounted on the flange 16 of the case, and at the same time having a degree of flexibility to enable it to be easily affixed to and removed from the mounting ring and a thickness not substantially greater than the offset 0 of the ring 20 from the flange 16.

Tab 18 may be of any desired configuration, being provided with a key-shaped hole or slot, shown generally at 24. The round portion of the key-shaped hole has a diameter greater than the external diameter a of the ring 20. The width d (FIG. 6) of the throat portion of the key-shaped hole is substantially smaller than the diameter of the ring. Preferably, and as shown in the drawing, the Width a is approximately equal to the chordal width of the arms 22. With this geometric relationship, tabs can be readily mounted on the flange, as shown in FIG. 4, by fitting the circular portion of the key hole 24 over the ring 20. To do this, the lower edge of the tab is flexed slightly by the steps 15 on shoulder 17. The tab is then manipulated upwardly so that the throat of the key hole fits snugly about the arms 22. In addition, the portion of the tab adjacent the hole 24, is held between the inner surface of the ring 20 and the under surface of the flange 16 sufficiently snugly so that the tab is held in coplanar relation with the under surface of the flange. In addition, with the side edges of the throat portion of the key hole contiguous with the side edges of the arms 22, the tab is retained in an upright position and cannot tilt to any substantial degree relative to the longitudinal axis of the case. Moreover, the tab is dimensioned so that its lower edge 26 is positioned adjacent the upper surface of the steps 15 assuring against tilting or accidental removal of the tab during shipping or handling.

At any time it is desired to remove a tab, it may be readily accomplished by flexing the lower edge of the tab 26 outwardly of the steps 15 and by manipulating the tab downwardly until the round portion of the key hole is in alignment with the ring 20, whereupon the tab can be simply lifted from the flange without marking or damaging the case or the tab in any way. Moreover, after removal of the tab the case can be reused and immediately returned to the display rack and hung in the same manner as if the tab were not removed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a number of toothbrush cases. 6 can be held together to form a unitary package by the use of advertising tabs. In FIG. 2, a tab 28 is approximately double the width of a toothbrush case. The two cases are held together in side-by-side relation by the advertising tab having two key-shaped holes 24 spaced a distance approximately equal to the width of one case. The cases are thus held together and may be conveniently displayed and sold as a unit. The rings 20, the arms 22 and the lower edge of the tab in relation to the shoul ders 17 of the two cases serve to securely maintain the cases in the assembled relation shown in FIG. 2. At any time the two cases can be separated by simply removing the tab 28 in the manner described above.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Toothbrush package comprising a case having an integral flange extending upwardly from its upper end, said flange being provided with an aperture therethrough for hanging up the package, a ring spaced outwardly from one surface of said flange, support arms extending from the edge of said aperture to said ring at diametrically opposite points thereof, said ring, support arms and flange being of integral construction, said ring having an outer diameter no greater than the diameter of said aperture and providing means for removably mounting a sales display tab of sheet material in coplanar relation on said flange.

2. Toothbrush package comprising a case having a flange extending upwardly from its upper end, said flange being provided with an aperture therethrough for hanging up the package, a ring integral with said flange and spaced outwardly from one surface thereof, said ring being supported by a pair of arms extending from the edge of said aperture to diametrically opposite locations on said ring and in alignment lengthwise of the case, said ring having an outer diameter less than the diameter of said aperture, and serving as means for removably mounting a tab of sheet material in coplanar relation with said flange.

3. Toothbrush package comprising a plastic case having an integral flange extending upwardly from one end thereof and offset from one surface of the case to provide a shoulder, said flange being provided with an aperture therethrough for hanging up said package, a ring spaced from one surface of said flange and being supported by. arms which extend outwardly from the edge of said aperture to diametrically opposite locations on said ring in alignment lengthwise of the case, said ring and aperture lying in a conical surface of revolution tapering inwardly from the flange to the ring, said ring, arms and shoulder providing means for removably mounting a tab of sheet material in coplanar relation with said flange.

4. Toothbrush package comprising in combination a case having a flange extending upwardly from its upper end, said flange being provided with an aperture for hanging up the package, a ring spaced from one surface of said flange and being supported by upstanding arms of arcuate configuration extending from diametrically opposite edges of said aperture, said arms being disposed in alignment lengthwise of the case and a tab of sheet material having a key-shaped aperture therethrough, the diameter of the circular portion of the key-shaped aperture being greater than the diameter of said ring, and the width of the throat portion of the key aperture being approximately equal to the chordal width of said ribs.

5. Toothbrush package comprising in combination a plastic case and sales display tab made of sheet material, said case being of integral construction and having a flange extending from its upper end, outwardly extending steps at the lower end of said flange, said flange having an aperture therethrough for hanging up the package, a ring disposed in spaced parallel relation with the under surface of the flange, said ring being supported by a pair of arcuate arms extending from the edge of the aperture to the ring and in alignment lengthwise of the case, the inner surface of the aperture, outer surface of the arms and ring lying in a conical surface of revolution tapered inwardly from the flange to the ring, said tab having a key-shaped aperture therethrough, the circular portion of the key aperture being slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ring, and the throat portion of the key aperture being approximately equal in width to the chordal width of said arms, the tab being dimensioned so its lower edge is contiguous with said steps whereby said tab is removably held in coplanar relation with.

said flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,772 10/ 1889 Arnold 24-247 929,068 7/ 1909 Willis. 1,290,386 1/ 1919 Smith. 1,570,625 1/ 1926 Eddins 24-247 1,951,744 3/ 1934 Walker. 2,035,273 3/ 1936 Michaelis 20678 2,066,957 1/1937 Wratschko 24-247 2,603,167 7/ 1952 Webster 248-224 3,082,902 3/1963 Kimbrough 22041 FOREIGN PATENTS 626,913 9/ 1961 Canada.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

5. TOOTHBRUSH PACKAGE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A PLASTIC CASE AND SALES DISPLAY TAB MADE OF SHEET MATERIAL, SAID CASE BEING OF INTEGRAL CONSTRUCTION AND HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING FROM ITS UPPER END, OUTWARDLY EXTENDING STEPS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID FLANGE, SAID FLANGE HAVINE AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH FOR HANGING UP THE PACKAGE, A RING DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE UNDER SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, SAID RING BEING SUPPORTED BY A PAIR OF ARCUATE ARMS EXTENDING FROM THE EDGE OF THE APERTURE TO THE RING AND IN ALIGNMENT LENGTHWISE OF THE CASE, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE APERTURE, OUTER SURFACE OF THE ARMS AND RING LYING IN A CONICAL SURFACE OF REVOLUTION TAPERED INWARDLY FROM THE FLANGE TO THE RIN, SAID TABY HAVING A KEY-SHAPED APERTURE THRETHROUGH, THE CIRCULAR PORTION OF THE KEY APERTURE BEING SLIGHLY LARGER THAN THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE RING, AND THE THROAT PORTION OF THE KEY APERTURE BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN WIDTH TO THE CHORDAL WIDTH OF SAID ARMS, THE TAB BEING DIMENSIONED SO ITS LOWER EDGE IS CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID STEPS WHEREBY SAID TAB IS REMOVABLY HELD IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH SAID FLANGE. 